Picks for pros: A mock draft of first-round NFL picks

In this Oct. 19, 2013, file photo, South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (7) rushes against Tennessee during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game in Knoxville, Tenn. Clowney finished last season with 11 1/2 tackles for loss and three sacks after getting 23 1/2 and 13 in 2012. He is a top prospect in the upcoming NFL draft. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, File)

The NFL Draft is only three days away. And it might be one of the most decisive drafts ever as opinions vary on the top quarterbacks like never before. The Top pick to me is a no-brainer. If the Texans don’t make the pick it will be a head scratcher for years to come. As for those quarterbacks, nothing will decide how the draft unfolds as much as them as teams move up and down the draft board trying to land the guy their franchise needs most of all. Here is how I think it unfolds (without trades).

1. Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina

This pick has to be made. YES, a quarterback is important. But, what is equally important in today’s NFL is stopping the elite quarterbacks. A front line featuring Clowney and J.J. Watt would make the Texans one of the most feared defenses in the league.

2. St. Louis Rams: Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn

This is the year that could make or break Sam Brafor’s tenure with the Rams. But, if St. Louis does not address its offensive line, the Oklahoma product might just end up broken. Robinson is a dominant run blocker with the athleticism to quickly develop into a Pro Bowl-caliber offensive tackle.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo

Mack is one of the few elite players in this draft class, he will probably play a hybrid role in head coach Gus Bradley’s defensive scheme and at the same time will play everydown. Yep, he is good.

4. Cleveland Browns: Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson

Adding an explosive weapon such as Watkins to a is paramount for a Browns offense that has been inept for years.

5. Oakland Raiders: Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M

Oakland needs a spark and if Manziel falls to them, he will be hard to resist. Al Davis is up there smiling somewhere if this happens.

6. Atlanta Falcons: Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M

Atlanta must draft a pass protector and a guy that gives Matt Ryan the best chance to succeed. Otherwise they are wasting their years with a franchise quarterback. Ryan got pummeled in the pocket a season ago.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M

The Mike Williams trade paves the way for the team to add Evans as a complement to Vincent Jackson in the passing game.

8. Minnesota Vikings: Blake Bortles, QB, UCF

Bortles is a big athletic quarterback like Norv Turner likes to coach. But, this is really too high for a Bortles. I expect Minnesota to trade down and still pick the Central Florida product. If they don’t it could backfire worse than Christian Ponder.

9. Buffalo Bills: Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan

Buffalo needs offensive line help too and the 6-foot-7 tackle would help protect E.J. Emanuel and let Doug Marrone decide if Emanuel was worth the first-round reach from the Bills’ former coaching staff.

10. Detroit Lions: Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State

Ray Horton’s success with Patrick Peterson in Arizona could prompt the Titans to add an athletic cover corner with exceptional ball skills.

11. Tennessee Titans: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, FS, Alabama

Tennessee needs help in its defensive backfield and Clinton-Dix provides that with some much needed versatility.

12. New York Giants: Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina

Eli Manning needs help. He threw 27 interceptions last season and adding a dynamic weapon at tight end should help Manning check down and not make so many mistakes in the middle of the football field.

13. St. Louis Rams: Calvin Pryor, FS, Louisville

After protecting Bradford with the pick they gained from the Washington Redskins, the Rams will continue to upgrade and already impressive defense. Pryor is the forceful presence the Rams need to upgrade their secondary.

14. Chicago Bears: Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh

The Bears have already upgraded at defensive end with Jared Allen, but a three-technique tackle would do wonders. Donald is the disruptive force Chicago needs after having one of the worse defensive fronts last season.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Odell Beckham, WR, LSU

Ben Roethlisberger is not getting any younger and the Steelers need another playmaker on the perimeter to alleviate the pressure him and help carry the passing game.

16. Dallas Cowboys: Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA

DeMarcus Ware is gone. Barr will replace him nicely.

17. Baltimore Ravens: Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State

Ozzie Newsome makes good picks late usually. This could be another as the Ravens continue to look to fill the voids on defense left by Ray Lewis and Ed Reed.

18. New York Jets: Marqise Lee, WR, USC

I think Michael Vick wins the starting job. Regardless, though, adding a pass catcher like Lee is essential. As both Vick and Geno Smith need someone who can get open when they scramble too soon.

19. Miami Dolphins: Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame

An offensive lineman named Martin? Why not. After last season’s debacle the Dolphins need the bodies up front.

20. Arizona Cardinals: Ryan Shazier, OLB, Ohio State

Shazier is a disruptive defender capable of wreaking havoc off the edges as a designated pass rusher.

21. Green Bay Packers: C.J. Mosley, ILB, Alabama

Mosley’s versatile skills as a three-down linebacker would fit right into in the Packers’ 3-4 scheme.

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State

DeSean Jackson is gone. So it is time to replace him. Cooks is fast, too. DeSean Jackson fast. Eagles fans, you’re welcome.

23. Kansas City Chiefs: Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State

To take the next step they need to be more explosive in the passing game where running back Jamaal Charles led the team with a mere 693 receiving yards last season. Benjamin isn’t a burner. He is simply too big for that and he was erratic in college. But his size and potential to be a No.1 receiver in the mold of Charles Johnson cannot be overlooked.

24. Cincinnati Bengals: Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri

Ealy isn’t a polished player, but he shows tremendous potential and the Bengals like drafting players who won’t pan out. This fits.

25. San Diego Chargers: Louis Nix III, NT, Notre Dame

Prior to last season I thought Nix was a top-10 pick. He slides to the Chargers, who need a nose tackle desperately. He could be a bust if he plays like he did last season for the Irish, though.

26. Cleveland Browns: Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville

Rarely does a team pick the No. 1 receiver before its No.1 quarterback, but GM Ray Farmer pulls that off here, salivating over getting Bridgewater this late. Vikings fans grimace for years knowing they are stuck with Bortles.

27. New Orleans Saints: Jason Verrett, CB, TCU

Verrett is arguably the top corner in the draft, but size concerns — he is 5-foot9 and 185 pounds — will cause him to fall in the draft. At 5-6 I feel his pain and the discrimination against short people. Danny Woodhead

28. Carolina Panthers: Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama

The departure of Jordan Gross should force GM Dave Gettleman to focus his efforts on finding a blind-side pass protector for Cam Newton. If, so this is the pick.

29. New England Patriots: Ra’Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota

Defensive tackle is a need for New England, with a veterans Vince Wilfork and Tommy Kelly coming off injury. This is a good value pick for them as uaual.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State

Yes, another cornerback off the board. The league is a passing league now and defenses — even good ones like the 49ers — are still playing catch up. Thanks a lot Peyton Manning ,,,

31. Denver Broncos: Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech

After losing Champ Bailey, who is in decline, adding an athlete like Fuller would help the Broncos defense as they aim for the Super Bowl with another year of the elder Manning setting records.

32. Seattle Seahawks: Stephen Tuitt, DE, Notre Dame

Tuitt would be a good fit as the 5-technique defensive end in the Seahawks’ defense, a role previously occupied by Red Bryant (now with the Jaguars). He’s a top-15 prospect in this draft based on his talent alone, but there are some concerns with his motor and consistency. Pete Carroll has an impressive track record of maximizing the talent of guys like Tuitt,

SECOND ROUND BONUS PICKS:

33. Houston Texans: Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State

Texans fans groan, but both Phil Simms and Jon Gruden have said that he might be the No. 1 QB in the draft. One thing is for sure, Carr produced. He had 113 touchdown passes and 12,843 yards passing for the Bulldogs. The other option is Bridgewater, if he slides to this spot. If he does and the Texans take him, they win the draft.

46. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jace Amaro, Texas Tech

Amaro doesn’t have elite speed but is a huge target at 6-5 and 265 pounds and after taking Beckham in Round 1, Rothelisberger is back to being Big Ben.